‘Crazy’ hosepipe ban loopholes mean people can still water their lawns and fill a hot tub – all the exceptions

BRITS can still water their lawns and even fill a hot tub thanks to “crazy” loopholes in the hosepipe ban – despite a national drought.

As the country gears up for yet another baking 35C heatwave, over 3.5 million people have been told to keep their hosepipes off.

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It comes as reservoirs are below normal capacity for this time of year amid a dry spell which looks set to continue for weeks.

But South East Water, who have issued a hosepipe ban from Friday, following a Southern Water ban that came into force last week, say there are some exceptions.

The water provider’s website says Brits with newly laid turf can water their grass for up to 28 days after rolling it out, according to The Telegraph.

But they gently encourage people to wait for cooler weather to lay new turf when demand for water falls.

Incredibly, you can even dodge the hosepipe ban if you’re filling up a hot tub.

Caroline Gould, South East Water’s head of legal, said: “The restrictions under the Water Industry Act 1991 apply to domestic swimming and paddling pools, not hot tubs.”

She said this is because hot tubs were once viewed more as baths, which do not fall under a hosepipe ban.

Christine Colvin, of the Rivers Trust, said a hot tub was “a luxury use of water” and it “just seems crazy” that they dodge the hosepipe ban.

Incredibly, watering pot plants, cleaning the inside of a boat and even washing a wheelie bin are all permitted during the ban.

People are also allowed to use a drip or trickle irrigation watering system, a fixed watering system or a watering can rather than a hose, i reported.

A hosepipe ban usually puts a bung on watering gardens, washing cars, filling swimming pools, fountains, or ponds.

Cleaning windows, blasting pathways and giving your decking a dousing are also prohibited as they are all considered non-essential uses of water.

Southern Water have even warned Brits can be hit with a hefty fine if found to be using hosepipes.

Parts of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are currently under a hosepipe ban – the first in 10 years.

Sussex, Kent and Pemprokeshire in Wales are set to be whacked with the rules on August 12.

Around two million households will be hit with this “temporary usage ban”,

The rules are likely to be in place until rain falls on Britain’s scorched landscape.

While it will only officially cover a handful of regions, other suppliers, such as Thames Water, have warned they may follow suit.

It follows the driest July since records began in 1836.

South east and central southern England had an average of just 0.2in (5mm) of rain last month, while East Anglia had 0.21in (5.4mm).

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk